(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker, colleagues. My question is directed to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. In Pond Inlet in June, 1997, hunters who were temporarily employed took some students out on a field trip. There were 11 students, along with the five hunters and their teacher. They got stranded on some ice and got carried away from their travelling equipment. They lost their snowmobiles including their sleds and tents. They had to leave everything behind. Mr. Speaker, it is estimated that each adult individual lost at least $10,000 worth of hunting and camping equipment that they owned. The hunters did not endeavour the trip on their own as they were employed by the Education Department to take the students out. Can the Minister give us an update as to what has happened since their safe return? Has the department received any claims for coverage for their loss and, if so, are the hunters being considered to receive compensation for their equipment? I would appreciate an immediate response from the Minister. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends)

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. Last year, March 5, 1997, I asked a question to the Minister regarding the 30 graves that were relocated to another area. The Minister agreed to work with the community on how this would be paid for. I would like to get an update as to what has happened with this item since I last talked to her . Thank you. (Translation ends)

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Mr. Speaker, further to my Member's statement earlier, I suggested that the Inuit teachers in my community be given a certificate of appreciation or a plaque of honourable mention for the work that they have been carrying out for a long time. Would the Minister consider making arrangements to have official recognition made publicly to the teachers of the Ataguttaaluk School in Igloolik for their dedication to their jobs as instructors of our children by presenting them with a token of appreciation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends)

Qujannamiik (Translation) Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my appreciation and to recognize the teacher of Ataguttaaluk School in Igloolik who teach the little ones from kindergarten to grades one to six. There are 254 students, starting from kindergarten classes in the morning and again separately in the afternoon. These teachers work very hard including some of the instructors who are not fully qualified as teachers but do work in their capacity as teachers' aides. There are three classroom assistants as well. They also have three Inuktitut language instructors who teach full-time in the lower grades and as separate subjects by grade six. I will name these teachers, Mary Kunuk, Eunice Uyarak, Susan Tulugardjuk, Mary Ungalaq, Amilia Angiler, Kanguk Akitter, Louise Uyarak, Yvone Kayutak, Pat Qulaut, Joana Quassa and Jeela Padlug. Mr. Speaker, these very special teachers are Inuit and are all women. I would ask the Minister of Education to make arrangements to present a token of recognition for these women. I suggest that this be done by way of a certificate of appreciation for my constituents. I will ask the Minister for his response at the appropriate time. Thank you. (Translation ends)

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will be presenting a petition, Petition 2-13(5), understaffing at the Igloolik Health Centre. It is a petition from last summer that was being petitioned by people of Igloolik that there is not enough health care workers within the health centre. It has 327 signatures from the people of Igloolik. The health centre in Igloolik presently has only three nurses. They will be eliminating one position so there will be only two nurses left in September, 1997.

Due to this the people and the Hamlet of Igloolik have stated that many health services have been eliminated. Therefore, we, the undersigned are against this elimination of government positions. We request they add more positions to increase the nursing staff to five positions within the community as these are very important positions for us. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends)

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would my colleagues, to think about a person that is presently being buried in Igloolik. This person committed suicide and has lost a lot of relatives in the past. I just want to tell the Members to think about the family in Igloolik. (Translation ends)

(Translation) Perhaps maybe the honourable Member did not understand me properly. I realize there is not really much of a response that I can get from the Minister, but I am going to be asking about this question because we have had some problems with the transportation systems through First Air. Mainly about the scheduling of First Air. I wanted to be represented at committee level by relaying to my colleagues that we have problems with scheduling by the airlines. I wonder why it was not discussed. Thank you. (Translation ends)

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister responsible for Transportation. First of all, if I can give you some information, I think last month on December 12th, the Canadian Transport Minister from the federal government was supposed to come to Yellowknife. He was supposedly going to meet with the manager of First Air. I wanted to be represented by my committee and I was not able to come here on December 12th for that committee meeting and I could not attend the transportation committee. We have had a lot of problems with the transportation system around Hall Beach and Igloolik. I wanted that message relayed to the Minister. I just wondered whether the Minister of this government attended this meeting and what happened at that meeting about what I wanted to say? Thank you. (Translation ends)

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize a person from Pond Inlet, Billy Merkosak. (Translation ends)